Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)

IDSA is honored to have Phnam Bagley as Jury Chair for the 2026 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), and entries are open.   As Partner and Creative Director at Nonfiction, Phnam is widely known and respected for her discerning eye and uncompromising standards. She brings a level of thoughtfulness and rigor that designers deeply respect.   IDEA submissions are now open. If you’re working on something meaningful, conscientious, and well-crafted—we encourage you to enter.    Learn more and enter at idsa.org/idea   #IDEA #DesignLeadership #IndustrialDesign #DesignExcellence

Design language isn’t just how things look—it’s how ideas scale, brands align, and products resonate. Join us for the January 2026 Design Language Deep Dive, a virtual event bringing together four influential design leaders: Paul Hatch, Spencer Dodge, Nichole Rouillac, and Isis Shiffer IDSA. Drawing from decades of experience across global brands, sustainability, industrial design, and emerging technologies, they’ll explore how design language drives clarity, consistency, and impact across organizations. 📅 January 29, 2026. Virtual event.  👉 Register now to secure your spot. Note: Registering for both the Design Language Deep Dive and Value of Design Deep Dive includes a 15% savings on each, using the discount code DD26SAVE15. 💬 Tag a colleague or friend you’d want to attend with! https://lnkd.in/emM_jTnN

🎯 Design leaders: elevate your impact. Join us on February 19 for a virtual intensive learning experience designed for experienced industrial designers ready to better define, articulate, and advocate for the value of design—both organizationally and humanly. Hear from a diverse panel of industry experts and gain practical tools to: • Communicate design’s impact in leadership language • Strengthen your strategic influence within organizations • Balance business objectives with responsible, human-centered outcomes If you’re ready to position design as a strategic driver—not just a function—this session is for you. 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/ezKy2MwZ

Early bird rates for the Be Unconventional Deep Dive in March, hosted by Women in Design, end today.   This deep dive is designed for leaders, designers, and strategists who want to move beyond conventional frameworks and explore new ways of thinking, working, and solving complex problems. Participants gain practical tools, fresh perspectives, and meaningful peer dialogue they can immediately apply in their work.   Get your early bird seats and join us for a focused, thoughtful exploration beyond the usual approaches. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eejDYWYK

IDSA has two upcoming Deep Dives scheduled for early 2026. Design Language Deep Dive January 29, 2026 · Virtual This deep dive focuses on how shared visual, verbal, and material systems support clarity, alignment, and consistency across design work. Design Language Registration: https://lnkd.in/espFqkee Be Unconventional Deep Dive March 5–6, 2026 · Denver, CO · Hosted by Women in Design A two-day Deep Dive that brings designers together to explore identity, empathy, inclusive design, immersive technologies, and the evolving role of design in shaping culture. ⏳ Early bird registration for Be Unconventional closes this coming Monday, January 12. Be Unconventional Registration: https://lnkd.in/eejDYWYK #IDSA #IDSADeepDives #DesignLanguage #BeUnconventional #WomenInDesign #Denver

Seven episodes. One powerful recap. Becoming a Designpreneur: Part 1-7 Recap January 22, 2026 | 6:00 PM EST | Virtual Join John Arnott, RCA, ACID, IDSA and Caterina Rizzoni, IDSA for a focused recap of Becoming a Designpreneur Episodes 1–7, bringing the most valuable insights from the series into one clear, high-impact session. This session covers the core fundamentals of building and sustaining a design-led business—strategy, value creation, positioning, and the practical realities of operating a successful practice. Whether you’re launching a studio, scaling your work, or leading design within an organization, you’ll gain practical takeaways you can apply immediately. Registration required. Save your spot and catch up in one powerful session. https://lnkd.in/eCdXj4kT #Designpreneur #DesignBusiness #DesignLeadership #CreativeEntrepreneur #DesignCommunity

IDEA 2026 Award Submissions are now open. For over four decades, the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) have recognized the most significant achievements in industrial design—work that advances the discipline and creates real impact in the world. IDEA entries are evaluated by a jury of globally respected design professionals using five enduring criteria: • Design Innovation • Benefit to the User • Benefit to the Client or Brand • Benefit to Society • Appropriate Aesthetics Winning work is accessioned into the permanent collection of The Henry Ford, securing a lasting place in the history of design and innovation. New in 2026: The IDEA Impact Award highlights projects that go beyond form and function—recognizing outcomes, long-term change, equity, access, and environmental responsibility. By entering IDEA, designers not only showcase excellence—they directly support IDSA’s mission to advocate for the profession, invest in future talent, and strengthen the global design community. 📍 Submit your work at: https://lnkd.in/e4XZMKMe #IDEA #IDSA #IndustrialDesign #DesignLeadership #DesignExcellence #DesignImpact #DesignAwards #CreativeProfessionals

Great design language doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through intention, alignment, and shared understanding across teams. The Design Language Deep Dive brings designers and leaders together to examine how design language systems shape products, organizations, and long-term brand value. Registration open. Design Language · January 29, 2026 · Virtual A forum dedicated to the foundational visual, verbal, and material languages that guide how design communicates meaning. Learn more and register at https://lnkd.in/espFqkee #IDSA #IDSADeepDives #IndustrialDesign #DesignLeadership #DesignCommunity #DesignStrategy #DesignEducation #DesignLanguage

Deep Dive Speaker Spotlight — Natacha Alpert Keynote Speaker at Be Unconventional, IDSA’s Deep Dive hosted by Women in Design. March 5–6, 2026 · Denver, CO Natacha Alpert is a futurist, innovator, and founder of NATUREVERSE and MIRAS3D, shaping the future of STEM learning through immersive technologies and regenerative design. With leadership roles across Nike, Timberland, Reebok, HP, and global technology partners, she has pioneered advancements in 3D ecosystems, wearable tech, digital twins, and sustainable manufacturing. Her keynote, “Transforming STEM Through Immersive Technologies,” explores how VR, AR, and extended reality can elevate science education beyond passive learning—using interactive storytelling and gamified ecosystems to strengthen understanding of climate change, biodiversity, and environmental responsibility. Natacha’s work challenges designers to expand their influence: to build platforms that merge creativity, technology, and purpose, shaping the next generation of STEM experiences. Join us in Denver for conversations that push design into new territory. Register at https://lnkd.in/eejDYWYK #IDSA #IDSADeepDives #WomenInDesign #BeUnconventional #DesignLeadership #ImmersiveTech #STEMEducation #IndustrialDesign #DesignInnovation #RegenerativeDesign #DesignCommunity

The Fall 2025 issue of INNOVATION, IDSA’s quarterly magazine, is now available. This issue documents the winners and featured finalists of the 2025 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), celebrated this year at The Henry Ford Museum. With nearly 2,000 submissions from 50 countries and regions, IDEA continues to set a global benchmark for design that delivers real benefit—to users, clients, and society. Beyond the awards, the issue explores critical conversations shaping the profession, including: – New IDSA research examining why women are leaving industrial design – How design leaders make the case for design in the boardroom As the field reflects on this year’s recognized work, attention now turns toward the next cycle. IDEA 2026 submissions will open soon, and this issue offers both inspiration and context for designers considering what excellence looks like today—and what they’re ready to put forward next. IDSA members receive four printed issues of INNOVATION each year as part of their membership. Learn more or subscribe at idsa.org. #IDSA #InnovationMagazine #IDEAawards #IndustrialDesign #DesignLeadership #DesignResearch #DesignExcellence #DesignCommunity